Subjunctive mood after "я боюсь" - Russian School Russificate

Asked by John on September 10, 2020

Question

Am I right in thinking that you use the subjunctive plus не after бояться to indicate that you are afraid that something may happen?
So: Я боюсь, чтобы он не сломал себе руку - does this mean in English "I’m afraid he may break his arm / have broken his arm"?
Does Я боюсь, что он сломал себе руку mean the same?
Many thanks.

Answer

Hi John,

Some options are possible.

Я боюсь, что он сломает себе руку. I am afraid he may break his arm.

Я боюсь, что он сломал себе руку. I am afraid she has broken his arm.

Я боюсь, как бы он не сломал себе руку. I am afraid he might break his arm.

In the last case the probability is lower than in the first case. Yes, it is something like the Subjunctive mood in the Russian language.

Subjunctive mood after “я боюсь”

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